Cup lift serving valve for continuous freezers



L. E. KOCH March 19, 1963 CUP LIFT SERVING VALVE FOR CONTINUOUS FREEZERS Filed March 15, 1961 mmw MHLWS M. m

e r m m m United States Patent 3,081,804 CUP LIFT SERVING VALVE FOR CONTINUOUS FREEZERS Lawrence E. Koch, Rocltton, 11L, assignor to Louis A. M. Phelan Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 95,142 3 Claims. (Cl. 141360) This invention relates generally to continuous freezers for shakes or the like, which freezers usually comprise a horizontally disposed refrigerated cylinder from which the finished product is drawn off by means of a serving valve at the discharge end and into cups. The invention relates, more particularly, to an improved serving valve for such a freezer.

In the operation of freezers of the type to which the present invention relates, it is desirable for the operator to be able to operate the serving valve with complete ease and rapidity and at the same time leave both hands free to hold perhaps several filled and/or unfilled cups.

In certain types of freezers, such as shown in the US. Patent 2,916,044, issued on December 8, 1959, to Phela-n et al., the serving valve comprises a piston-type plunger which must be grasped by the operator and then pushed and turned slightly to open it. Such a valve is satisfactory for dispensing soft ice cream, for example, where the manner of making the draw is quite different. For example, in the device of that patent, the valve is operated by one hand while the other hand of the operator is used solely to hold the cup and rotate or twist it during the final stage of filling so as to form an appealing top or twist on the top of the product.

The present invention, however, provides a valve for use in dispensing shakes or other products not requiring the formation of the twisted top, and in which speed of operation is emphasized.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved serving valve for a continuous freezer which utilizes a simple vertical tube as a discharge spout and which can be opened by a simple upward movement of the cup which is to be filled. A vertically reciprocable plunger in the spout acts as the movable part of the valve and is shut automatically and positively by gravity and without attention being required by the operator. As a result, the operators hands are left free to hold as many cups as possible.

In the present type of valve, a very close tolerance. is required between the bore of the vertical discharge tube and its plunger in order to prevent leakage or dripping of the product and insure good wiping action of the plunger in the tube. The present invention provides a tube having a uniform bore of sufiicient length to prevent tipping or cocking of the shift-able plunger and which will provide good sealing action with the tube.

T he invention further contemplates a valve of the above type which has means for readily receiving cups of different sizes and by means of which equalized lifting pressure can be applied to both sides of the plunger to raise it without tilting, thereby insuring smooth operation of the valve. Guide means are furthermore provided for the cup receiving means so that the latter is kept in a properly oriented position to receive cups.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the front cover of a continuous freezer and a serving valve made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away or in section, of the cover and valve shown in ice FIGURE 1 but in the assembled position and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the FIGURE 2 device on a reduced scale and a part broken away and in section;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal View in section, taken on line 44 in FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section, and showing a modified form of plunger and tube.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, and particularly FIGURE 2, a horizontally disposed freezer cylinder 10 has a removable and insulated cover 11 secured at its front or discharge end by means of bolts 12. The cover has a discharge opening 13 at its lowermost side through which the finished product is pushed by the action of the rotatable beater or dasher 14. If a more complete description is deemed necesary or desirable of the general structure or function of the refrigerated cylinder, insulated cover, or beater, reference may be had, respectively, to US. Patents No. 2,947,155 issued August 2, 1960; 2,964,219 issued December 13, 1960; and 2,810,557 issued October 22, 1957. It is believed sufiicient to say for purposes of this disclosure, however, that the fresh mix (not shown) is fed generally forwardly by the rotating beater to the front end of the cylinder. When the serving valve V is open, the pressure created on the product by the rotating beater forces the product out through the valve.

The discharge opening 13 is defined by a horizontal tubular portion 15 of a generally T-shaped fitting 16 secured to the cover. This fitting also comprises a vertical tubular portion 17 having a uniform diameter bore 18 which terminates at its lower end in a bevelled shoulder 19 which forms a valve seat. Thus, opening 13 is in product delivering communication with tubular member 17, at .a location intermediate the length of member 17.

Along the exterior of the vertical portion 17, and at each side thereof, is located a guide means in the form of a vertically disposed groove 20, which groove is in parallelism with the axis of tubular portion 17. It will be noted that portion 17 is of a length about 2 /2. times as long as its internal diameter. A plunger assembly PA is provided for vertical movement in portion 17 and includes a plunger 22 which is of such an external diameter that it forms a close fit with bore 18. The lower end of the plunger is of reduced diameter and has an O-ring mounted thereon for sealing engagement against shoulder 19 when in the closed position.

Across the upper end of the plunger is secured a generally horizontal mounting plate 23 which extends outwardly beyond opposite sides of the plunger.

Guide means are provided on the plunger assembly which are complementary to and cooperate with the guide means on tubular portion 17. These means are in the form of rods 24 which extend downwardly, one along each side of the plunger, and are spaced a distance therefrom. The upper ends of these rods are secured to their respective side of the plate 23 and the lower portions 25 of these rods flare outwardly or diverge beyond the lower end of the plunger. The intermediate portions 26 are arranged in parallelism with the axis of the plunger and register with and slide in their respective groove 20. A brace 27 rigidly secured the rods together and extends around the front side of portion 17.

Thus, the plunger is permitted to be shifted vertically in the bore but cannot rotate relative thereto.

Downward movement of the plunger occurs by gravity and is arrested when the O-ring seats on its shoulder 19. In the seated position, the tubular portion 17 extends between the plunger and its rods 24. The plunger can be readily removed, for cleaning for example, simply aosneoa 3 by lifting it out of the vertical portion 17, leaving the latter also completely accessible for thorough cleaning.

The plunger assembly PA also has cup receiving means at its lower end for readily receiving cups of various sizes for actuation'thereby. These receiving means take the form of a horizontally disposed plate 31} secured at the lower end of each rod 24. Each of these plates in turn has a downwardly extending flange SI at its outer side which serves to locate the upper edge of the cup on the plate and aids in holding them in alignment. In other words, the flanges insure that the operator can readily position the cup properly in the receiving means.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 5, parts similar to those in FIGURES l to 4 have been numbered correspondingly; it will be noted, however, that the plunger 22a is formed without the O-ring and bore 180 is of uniform diameter throughout its entire length and has no internal shoulder. In this modification, the plunger 2211 must be of such a diameter relative to bore 13a so as to form a sealing fit therewith. The practical manufacturing of this sealing arrangement is possible because of the completely uniform diameter of the bore 18a.

By means of the present invention, the operator can hold cups in each of his hands and opening of the valve is accomplished by pushing the upper end of the cup upwardly against the cup receiving means. Continued raising of the cups then lifts the plunger sufliciently to open the tubular portion 15 to permit the product to flow therefrom. The upper edge of the cup is spaced downwardly a sufiicient distance from the lower end of portion 17 to permit the operator to see when the cup is full.

To close the valve it is only necessary to lower the cup, thus permitting the plunger to fall by gravity.

The cup receiving means applies lifting force equally to both sides of the plunger to prevent tipping thereof, particularly when the plunger is in the raised position.

portions are located sufiiciently far to each side of the product being discharged so as not to impede the flow or cause splashing thereof.

The complementary guide means on the plunger assembly and vertical tubular portion insures that the plunger does not rotate in use and thereby swing the cup receiving means out of proper position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the rods of the cup receiving means also act as part of the complementary guide means. However, separate guide means could be employed and only one could be sufficient tomaintain the desired alignment.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a continuous freezer having a discharge end with Furthermore, when this raised position, the cup receiving I an opening adjacent the bottom thereof and through which a finished product is discharged; a serving valve comprising, a generally vertically disposed tubular member adapted to be in product receiving communication with said opening at a location intermediate the length of said member, and a plunger assembly including, an elongated cylindrical plunger having a lower end shiftably mounted in said member between a lower position in which said opening is blocked by said plunger and an upper position in which said lower end is raised above at least a portion of said opening to place the latter in direct communication with said member, and a pair of rods, one located on each of opposite sides of the plunger and secured to an upper part thereof, said rods extend ing downwardly beyond the lower end of said plunger and having a cup receiving portion at their lower ends, said member having longitudinally opposed guide grooves in its external surface for receiving and slidably guiding at least one of said rods to thereby limit rotation of said cup receiving portion relative to said tubular member.

2. In a continuous freezer having a discharge end with an opening adjacent the bottom thereof and through which a finished product is discharged; a serving valve comprising, a generally vertically disposed tube in communication with said opening, and a plunger assembly including, an elongated cylindrical plunger having a lower end and shifitably mounted in said tube between a lower position in which said opening is blocked by said plunger and an upper position in which said lower end is raised above at least a portion of said opening to place the latter in direct communication with said tube, a pair of rods, one located on each of opposite sides of the plunger and secured to an upper part thereof, said rods extending downwardly beyond the lower end of said plunger, said tube having guide grooves in its external surface cooperating with said rods for limiting rotation between said tube and plunger, and a cup receiving portion at the lowe end of said rods.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said cup receiving portion comprises a generally horizontally disposed plate-like member.

References titted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,029 So1ie Apr. 9, 1957 2,810,557 Phelan Oct. 22, 1957 2,836,401 Phelan May 27, 1958 2,964,219 Phelan Dec. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,060 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1922 351,308 Germany Apr. 5, 1922 

1. IN A CONTINUOUS FREEZER HAVING A DISCHARGE END WITH AN OPENING ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND THROUGH WHICH A FINISHED PRODUCT IS DISCHARGED; A SERVING VALVE COMPRISING, A GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE IN PRODUCT RECEIVING COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF SAID MEMBER, AND A PLUNGER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING, AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL PLUNGER HAVING A LOWER END SHIFTABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MEMBER BETWEEN A LOWER POSITION IN WHICH SAID OPENING IS BLOCKED BY SAID PLUNGER AND AN UPPER POSITION IN WHICH SAID LOWER END IS RAISED ABOVE AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID OPENING TO PLACE THE LATTER IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MEMBER, AND A PAIR OF RODS, ONE LOCATED ON EACH OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLUNGER AND SECURED TO AN UPPER PART THEREOF, SAID RODS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BEYOND THE LOWER END OF SAID PLUNGER AND HAVING A CUP RECEIVING PORTION AT THEIR LOWER ENDS, 